When May Law Enforcement Conduct a Search Without a Warrant in New York?
Former Prosecutors. Free confidential consultation. We can help when you need us most.
When May Law Enforcement Conduct a Search Without a Warrant in New York?
For the most part, the Fourth Amendment protects New Yorkers against unreasonable searches and seizures. Yet there are times when a police officer may conduct a warrantless search.
If the officer’s search does not fit within the narrowly defined exceptions allowed by law, your defense attorney may be able to suppress any information obtained.
Exception #1: You Consent
Page Contents
If you consent then you’re waiving your rights. Doing this never provides you with a single benefit.
Don’t ever consent to a search.
Note that a suspect’s spouse can also give consent to search a home that the both of you share, so make sure your spouse knows that nobody should be giving police officers keys to anything for any reason.
When you consent to a search you virtually eliminate any challenge that a defense attorney could possibly make to that search.
Exception #2: The Evidence is in Plain View
Here’s a good reason never to let police officers into your home without a warrant. If police officers walk in and see evidence of a crime sitting on your coffee table, then they may seize that object.
They may not continue searching their home after seizing that object. They must go back and pursue a search warrant. Nevertheless, you don’t want to give them the opportunity to plant evidence and then to say that the evidence was sitting in plain view.
Exception #3: Vehicle Searches
We always speak, on this blog, about how you should never consent to a search of your vehicle. Nevertheless, officers may ignore your lack of consent and search your vehicle without a warrant.
They may do this if they believe the vehicle contains evidence of a crime, the instrumentalities of a crime, contraband, or the fruits of a crime. They must have probable cause for the search. It is still important for you to avoid consent, as we can challenge the probable cause determination in court later.
Exception #4: Hot Pursuit
If police are pursuing a suspect that they believe committed a felony, and that suspect enters a private property, they may enter that property in turn to arrest the suspect.
If there is evidence on that suspect’s person or evidence in plain view that the suspect was attempting to hide or destroy, then police may seize that evidence as well.
“Hot pursuit” only works for felony crimes. It does not work for misdemeanor crimes.
What About Stop and Frisk?
On November 28, 2022, a US judge ruled that the New York Police Department’s “stop and frisk” crime fighting tactic is unconstitutional. Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to appeal the decision.
Until the appeal goes through we can probably expect a pause in this tactic. Nevertheless, in the past police have been able to approach, stop, and pat down a suspect if they had reasonable suspicion that the person was engaging in a criminal act, or had recently engaged in a criminal act.
See also:
When Can Police Search Your Vehicle in NYC?
What is the Difference Between Being Arrested and Detained in NYC?
Our Practice Areas
How We Can Help You?
Types of Cases We Handle
Our Recent Case Results
We Seek the Best Possible Results for Our Clients
Domestic violence
We were able to convince the Manhattan DA's office to dismiss the case without any ACD at all. The case was dismissed and sealed immediately.
Bank fraud
After preparing this case for a JURY TRIAL, the DA's office finally offered a reduced charge and gave my client a no-jail sentence of probation.
Federal felony
Client faced a mandatory minimum of 10 years incarceration, we were able to secure a sentence of 1 day in jail.
Burglary
Client rejected all plea offers. After the trial concluded, the jury needed only 2 hours to acquit client of all felony charges, and even the criminal mischief charge as well.